Highlights of Malta & Sicily | 14 Days

Half day tour of Valletta. See the Barracca Gardens with its view of the Grand Harbour, St John’s Co-Cathedral with its caravaggio painting and the Grand Masters Palace. End with the Malta experience multi-vision show that depicts the country’s history. Overnight in Malta.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Full day tour includes a visit to the Citadel of Mdina and its view of the island. Stop at the catacombs before proceeding to the Dingli Cliffs. Visit the San Anton Gardens and the Mosta church with its impressive dome. End the day at the crafts centre of Ta’Qali. Overnight in Malta.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Half day tour of the historical area begins with a drive past Cospicua to Vittoriosa. Discover on foot the old, narrow streets and buildings. Take a ‘fregatina’ for a tour of the famous harbour creeks, a unique way to view the fortifications. End the tour in Senglea with its watchtower in the centre of the harbour. Overnight in Malta.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Travel to Gozo. Visit the Megalithic temples of Ggantija, the Citadel in Victoria and beautiful Xlendi Bay. Free time at the local markets. Return to Malta. Overnight in Malta.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Make your own way to the cruise departure point. Board your cruise for a full day in the Blue Lagoon at the island of Comino. Cruise past Sliema, St. Julians, St. Pauls Bay, and Mellieha. Rest of the day is at leisure on the island. From June until October (weather permitting), a stop of approximately 45 minutes at the Crystal Lagoon is also included. The Crystal Lagoon is a perfect spot for divers and snorkelers, and it is one of the nicest and most sheltered lagoons Malta has to offer. Take a refreshing dip and explore the amazing sea caves located within this stunning lagoon.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Transfer to Malta airport for flight to Catania (flights not included). On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Catania.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

After breakfast, departure to Siracusa: visit the World Heritage Site “Neapolis”. The visit of this archaeological area includes the famous Greek theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise, and the “Dionysius Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of Siracusa. Visit the beautiful Cathedral, which is built upon the site of the Doric Temple of Minerva, the legendary Arethusa’s Fountain, and the Temple of Apollo. Free time for lunch and afternoon at your own leisure to stroll through the streets of the centre and for shopping. Return to your hotel in Catania for overnight.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for a walking tour of Catania. Stroll through the city centre with your professional guide who will charm you with the history of the city and take you to visit the famous fish market “a piscaria”, one of the largest fish markets in Sicily. As old as the city itself, it’s a great way to experience the abundant fishing and seafood culture of Sicily, with a very special and authentic atmosphere. Depart to Ragusa, renowned for its cheese production, therefore, we will not miss a tasting of artisan cheeses and Sicilian specialties (light lunch). We will visit the enchanting historical centre “Ibla”, with its stunning baroque palaces and churches. Together with seven other cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Overnight Ragusa.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, departure to Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit of the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is in almost perfectly preserved condition, and the temples of Juno and Heracles. In the afternoon we’ll proceed to Marsala a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine. Arrival at Baglio Donnafranca, a perfectly restored 19^th century baglio, which rises in the Marsala countryside, on the hills in front of the Stagnone Reserve and the Egadi Islands. The baglio was a property of Florio. Here we will have the opportunity to visit the cellar and learn all about winemaking. At the end of the tour, we will enjoy a wine tasting/light dinner at sunset. Overnight Marsala.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

After breakfast, departure to Erice via the spectacular “Salt Route”, a road flanked by the salt pans, windmills, and the “salt houses” where they still extract the sea salt as did the Phoenicians. Arrival in Erice, located on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes, and inner courtyards. Stop for marzipan and biscuit tasting. Continue to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. We will enjoy a “street food” lunch in the centre of the town and then we’ll visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. Continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach “I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini, and then visit the Church of Santa Caterina. Overnight in Palermo.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, departure to the town of Monreale, situated on a hill at few kilometres from Palermo in a panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down the main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time to explore the town. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we’ll have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Continue to Taormina for overnight.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

After breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, we will reach a height of 1800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters where we’ll enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local winery on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar. We will have the opportunity to taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese and cold cuts. In the afternoon, return to Taormina, the charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”. Enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Greek-Roman Theatre on your own, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. Overnight in Taormina.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

After breakfast, the tour concludes. End of our services.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Touring with multilingual guide

Tours as per itinerary

13 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 1 Dinner

Malta shared return transfers

Transportation by air conditioned vehicle during sightseeing tours

Entrance fees to the following sights:

• Siracusa: Neapolis + Dome
• Agrigento: Valley of Temples
• Palermo: Martorana Church
• Monreale: Dome

Additional: $106 per person. Available to select at time of booking.

Porterage at hotels on days 8 – 14 of itinerary

Whisper kit on days 8 – 14 of the itinerary

1 Street food lunch experience in Palermo including water and a glass of wine

Cheese & Sicilian products tasting/light lunch in Ragusa including water and a glass of win

Almond pastries tasting in Erice

Visit of a cellar in Marsala

Wine tasting and light dinner at Sunset in Marsala

Visit of a cellar and Wine tasting on Mount Etna

Flight from Malta to Catania

Tips and gratuities to tour directors, drivers and local guides

City and tourist taxes (these are paid locally)

Entrance fees to sights and tourist taxes

Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling

Passport or visa fees

Any beverages or food not listed in itinerary

Baggage and personal insurance of any kind

Any other items of personal nature